Luschka Duct Leak: An Unexpected Cause of Choleperitoneum After Liver Transplant.

The anatomic variabilities in ducts of Luschka put patients at risk during hepatobiliary surgery. Clinically relevant bile leakage is the cause of 0.4% to 1.2% of complications of cholecystectomies, with almost one-third of complications caused by an inadvertent injury to the duct of Luschka. However, bile leakage from a duct of Luschka after liver transplant is rare, and only one previously published report has been found. Here, we report a case of a 67-year-old male patient who underwent liver transplant for cirrhosis due to hepatitis C virus infection. After transplant, the patient had a choleperitoneum caused by bile leakage from a duct of Luschka. The donor surgery had been performed by surgeons from another institution, and they had also performed the previous cholecystectomy. Fifteen days after surgery, a cholangiography showed bile leakage near the anastomosis. A new intervention was decided. After confirmation of the integrity of the anastomosis, methylene blue was injected through the Kehr's tube, which escaped from a duct of Luschka. The duct was closed, and an intraoperative cholangiography confirmed that the biliary tree was intact. After this intervention, a new bile leakage was observed, resulting in an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography scan and sphincterotomy. The Kehr's tube was kept open until leak resolution. Although unusual after liver transplant, this complication should be considered in cases of bile leakage. The ducts of Luschka are difficult to see during cholecystectomy in the graft due to perivesicular edema.

Surgical management of familial adenomatous polyposis: pancreas-sparing duodenectomy or pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure).

Duodenal cancer is the main cause of death for patients with FAP syndrome (familial adenomatous polyposis) treated with a colectomy. The disease follows the adenoma to carcinoma sequence and is diagnosed during follow-up in 7-36% of patients. Endoscopic treatment is used during the first treatment stage of the disease and surgery is an adequate therapeutic option when endoscopic control is insufficient.

Current allocation policy is favorable for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma waiting for liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are a growing population of the transplantation waiting list (WL) for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). There is no consensus to prioritize these patients while on the WL. AIMS: To assess whether patients with HCC were more prioritized than non-HCC patients based on their WL survival as primary outcome. METHODS: Restrospective cohort study including patients listed for elective OLT from January 2013 to January 2016. RESULTS: 165 patients with cirrhosis were listed for OLT: 64 in the HCC group (38.78%) and 101 in the non-HCC group (61.22%). Outcomes (HCC vs. non-HCC) were: OLT in 75.51% vs. 64.37%; death or dropout due to worsening in 20.41% vs. 27.59%, and delisting because of improvement in 4.08% vs. 8.05%. HCC patients had a significantly higher WL survival rate (HR = 0.45; 95% CI: 0.21-0.96); lower MELD score at transplantation (21 [20-24] vs. 24 [20-30]; p = 0.021); higher delta-MELD - the difference between MELD at transplantation and MELD at listing time - (3 [2-6] vs. 0 [0-5]; p = 0.024) and longer waiting time until OLT (143 [70-233] vs. 67 [21-164] days; p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: Despite having to wait longer, patients with HCC showed higher WL survival than non-HCC patients.

Surgical management of simple liver cysts.

BACKGROUND: To date there is no consensus about the treatment of choice for symptomatic or complicated simple liver cysts. METHODS: A retrospective study of all patients diagnosed with simple liver cyst surgically managed at Ramon y Cajal Hospital during the period between 1998 and 2008 was performed. RESULTS: We analyzed 21 patients, 18 females (85.7%) and three males (14.3%) with a mean age of 64.2 years. Ten patients (47.6%) were asymptomatic. During follow-up, cyst growth was determined. Three patients (14.3%) presented an infected simple liver cyst. Seven patients (33.3%) presented abdominal pain and one patient (4.8%) reported an abdominal mass during self-examination. Treatment consisted of unroofing and cyst drainage in 18 patients (85.7%) and cyst enucleation in three patients (14.3%). Postoperative complications appeared in two patients (9.6%). There was no mortality. Pathology revealed simple liver cyst in 17 patients (80.9%) and liver cystadenoma in four (19.1%). The latter were reoperated for complete cyst resection. Recurrence rate was 23.5% (four cases) for the simple liver cysts. In all cases, unroofing was performed. CONCLUSION: In some cases, cystadenomas show ultrasonographic and radiological features similar to simple liver cysts, implying an incorrect surgical approach. We recommend performing an intraoperative biopsy of all resected liver cysts to confirm its nature. Unroofing is associated with a high recurrence rate (>20%). Therefore, we propose cyst enucleation as the best surgical treatment.

[Inguinofemoral hernia: multicenter study of surgical techniques]. / Hernia inguinocrural: estudio multicéntrico sobre técnicas quirúrgicas.

INTRODUCTION: The present study was performed by the Spanish Association of surgeons through its abdominal wall and sutures section. The aim was to determine the current situation of inguinofemoral hernias in Spain and was based on an anonymous multicenter study with the participation of various national hospitals. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Fifty general surgery departments in distinct surgical centers throughout Spain responded to an anonymous survey in 2000. The survey gathered data on anesthetic features, surgical techniques and complications in the treatment of inguinofemoral hernias. RESULTS: Sixty-six percent of hospital centers had a specific abdominal wall unit and 24% performed laparoscopic hernia surgery. Prosthetic techniques (especially Lichtenstein) were the most frequently used in the treatment of primary inguinal hernia (72%) and recurrent hernia (100%). The most frequently used prosthetic material was polypropylene mesh (76%). Only 28% of the departments surveyed performed anatomic techniques in the repair of primary inguinal hernia (Shouldice and Bassini). The most frequent treatment for femoral hernia was the Lichtenstein "plug" (78%). Sixty-eight percent of the centers surveyed performed regional anesthesia, 18% used general anesthesia and only 14% used local anesthesia with sedation. Severe complications were found in 20% of departments. Clinical postoperative follow-up was performed in 96% of the centers and telephone follow-up was used in 4%. The recurrence rate was 1.2% for primary inguinal hernia, 2.7% for recurrent inguinal hernia and 0.3% for femoral hernia. CONCLUSIONS: In Spain the most commonly used surgical technique in the treatment of inguinal hernia is Lichtenstein hernioplasty under spinal anesthesia and with polypropylene prosthesis. The Lichtenstein plug is the most commonly used technique in the treatment of femoral hernia.

[Repair of primary inguinal hernia: Lichtenstein versus Shouldice techniques. Prospective randomized study of pain and hospital costs]. / Reparación de la hernia inguinal primaria: Lichtenstein frente a Shouldice. Estudio prospectivo y aleatorizado sobre el dolor y los costes hospitalarios.

INTRODUCTION: Hernia is one of the most widely studied processes, and the search for excellence has become the final aim. However, many controversies remain to be resolved. The objective of the present study was to analyze postoperative pain and costs using two techniques of primary inguinal hernia repair. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We performed a prospective, randomized study of 54 patients who underwent surgical repair of inguinal hernia through either the Lichtenstein or the Shouldice technique between June 2001 and May 2002. The following variables were analyzed: age, location and type of hernia, evaluation of tolerance to local anesthesia, surgical technique, operating time, pain at days 1, 3 and 5 after surgery, analgesic consumption, days until driving could be resumed, days off work, and occupation. RESULTS: The patient groups were similar, with no significant differences in age, location or type of hernia. For Lichtenstein hernioplasty, operating time was lower (p < 0.01); pain evaluation showed no significant differences on days 1 and 3 after surgery but was higher on day 5 (p = 0.064). No significant differences were found in analgesic consumption, time before driving could be resumed, or days off work. Freelance patients returned to work earlier, independently of the surgical technique performed. The cost of the Lichtenstein technique was 235 euros compared with 180 euros for the Shouldice technique and this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In the hands of expert surgeons, the Shouldice technique is the procedure of choice in the repair of primary hernias. The results are just as satisfactory as those obtained with Lichtenstein hernioplasty and hospital costs are lower.